Landfill Operations

The normal waste collected each week from households by each of the member councils is taken to Tamala Park for disposal. In 2015, some 266,700 tonnes of waste was sent to landfill at Tamala Park.

Landfill gas is extracted from the waste mass and is used to produce "green energy" which is supplied to the state power grid for on-sale to commercial customers. All gas extraction and power generation activities on-site are carried out by Landfill Gas and Power under contract to the Mindarie Regional Council.

Tamala Park Landfill - Development

The Tamala Park landfill waste disposal facility operated by the MRC was jointly acquired in 1981 by the Cities of Perth, Stirling and Wanneroo. The site comprises an area of 250 hectares.

Tamala Park is licensed as a Class 2 Waste Disposal facility which means that mainly biodegradable waste is sent to landfill.
The Environmental Protection Authority has approved 22 hectares of the site for landfill, with each hectare being called a "cell".
The MRC developed 12 cells for landfill in its Stage 1 plan at Tamala Park. These cells have now been filled and closed, and an extensive revegetation program is under way.
Landfilling in Stage I ceased in November 2004. Waste disposal was moved to Stage II, Phase I and then closed in 2009 and capped in 2010. Landfilling in Stage II, Phase II commenced late 2009 and was completed in early 2012, with capping of Phase II expected to be completed later in 2012. While Phase II was being landfilled, cell development was occurring in Phase III. Landfilling of Phase III commenced immediately after Phase II was completed. Phase III of Stage II is the final stage of landfill development at Tamala Park and based on current waste quantities being received, the landfilling operations should cease by 2025.

Completed areas of the landfill are progressively covered and rehabilitated to return the area to its natural habitat. Rehabilitation includes planting the covered areas with native species most of which are grown from seeds collected on site, or in the local area.
To date, some 6 million tonnes of waste have even received since operations began in February 1991.
World's Best Practice standards indicate that one cubic metre of space should be able to contain landfill weighing one tonne. The high efficiency levels achieved at the Tamala Park operations are such that one cubic metre holds, on average, about 1.2 tonnes.
The Tamala Park facility currently services a population of some 500,000 people.

The Tamala Park operations were first accredited with ISO in 2009 with subsequent three yearly re-accreditations.

More Than Just Landfill

The Tamala Park waste disposal facility also provides the general public with comprehensive refuse disposal services, a recycling centre, shop and receival area for unwanted white goods.